What does Ezekiel 7:22 mean?
"My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it." - Ezekiel 7:22

Ezekiel 7:22 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it." This verse comes from the book of Ezekiel, which is a prophetic book in the Old Testament. In this particular verse, the prophet Ezekiel is conveying a message from God to the people of Israel, warning them of the impending judgment and wrath that will come upon them due to their disobedience and unfaithfulness.
To truly understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is essential to look at the context in which it was written. The book of Ezekiel is set during the time of the Babylonian exile, when the people of Israel had been taken captive and were in a state of spiritual and moral decay. The prophet Ezekiel was called by God to be a messenger to the exiled Israelites, to proclaim God's judgment against them for their sin and idolatry, and to call them to repentance.
In Ezekiel 7:22, God is expressing His anger and disappointment with the people of Israel. He declares that He will turn His face away from them, meaning that He will no longer be with them or protect them. This turning away of God's face signifies His withdrawal of favor and protection, leaving the people vulnerable to the consequences of their actions.
The verse also speaks of the defilement of God's "secret place" by robbers. The secret place referred to here could be the inner sanctum of the temple, the holiest and most sacred space where God's presence dwelt. The defiling of this sacred place by robbers symbolizes the desecration and contamination of the spiritual and moral purity that should be upheld in the worship of God. This defilement deepens the sense of spiritual decay and loss of God's presence among the people.
The themes present in this verse are of judgment, defilement, and the consequences of sin. The people of Israel had turned away from God and had embraced idolatry and wickedness, which brought about their impending judgment and the defilement of the sacred places of worship.
Though this verse reflects the specific circumstances of the people of Israel during Ezekiel's time, it also carries timeless truths that are applicable to all people in all ages. The consequences of sin and disobedience, the withdrawal of God's favor and presence, and the defilement of the sacred are universal themes that resonate throughout history.
The commentary on this verse serves as a powerful warning and reminder to all believers of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God. It emphasizes the need to uphold the sacredness of our relationship with God and to avoid the defilement of our hearts and our places of worship. It also serves as a call to repentance and a plea for the restoration of God's favor and presence.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 7:22 in the King James Version of the Bible is a sobering and powerful message from God, conveying His judgment against the people of Israel for their sin and disobedience. It serves as a timeless warning and exhortation for all believers to uphold the sanctity of their relationship with God and to avoid the defilement of the sacred. The themes of judgment, defilement, and the consequences of sin present in this verse are profound and relevant, calling for a response of repentance and a renewed commitment to faithfulness and obedience to God.
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Ezekiel 7:22 Artwork
Ezekiel 7:22 - "My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it."
"My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it." - Ezekiel 7:22
Ezekiel 22:7 - "In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow."
Ezekiel 22:6-7 - "See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the foreigner and mistreated the fatherless and the widow."
Ezekiel 22:23 - "¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 22:17 - "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 21:7
Ezekiel 22:1 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 37:7
"In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow." - Ezekiel 22:7
Ezekiel 37 1-7
Psalm 22:7
Psalms 22:7
Revelation 7:22
Genesis 22-7
Ezekiel 22:6 - "Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood."
Ezekiel 22:8 - "Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths."
Ezekiel 22:22 - "As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you."
Ezekiel 39:22 - "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward."
Ezekiel 45:22 - "And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering."
Ezekiel 34:7 - "¶ Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;"
Ezekiel 22:10 - "In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution."
Ezekiel 34:22 - "Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle."
Ezekiel 7:7 - "The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains."
Ezekiel 7:25 - "Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none."
Ezekiel 22:15 - "And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee."
Ezekiel 32:22 - "Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:"
Ezekiel 7:1 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Leviticus 7:22 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Ezekiel 11:22 - "¶ Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above."